Buchi Rotavapor R-3000 User manual

1
BÜCHI Rotavapor R-3000 Contents
Contents
1 Scope of delivery 2
2 Safety 3
3 Function 6
4 Putting into operation 7
4. 1 Unpacking 7
4. 2 Point of use 7
4. 3 Quick-lift 7
4. 4 Heating bath 8
4. 5 Sealing system 9
4. 6 Glass assemblies 9
4. 7 Combi clip 10
4. 8 Hose connections 10
4. 9 Electrical connections 11
5 Operating the Rotavapor 12
5. 1 Controls 12
5. 2 Performing a distillation run 13
5. 3 Selecting the conditions of distillation 14
5. 4 Solvent 15
5. 5 Malfunctions 16
6 Maintenance 17
6. 1 Cleaning and inspecting 17
6. 2 Function test 18
6. 3 Replacing the quick-lift spring 18
6. 4 Service 19
7 Taking out of operation 19
8 Replacement parts 20
9 Appendix 30
Read these operating instructions carefully before you use
the Büchi Rotavapor R-3000. Keep these instructions in a
safe place close to the Rotavapor for quick reference whenever
required. Do not plug in the Rotavapor to the main power
supply and do not turn the instrument on until you have
completed all the essential preparations.
Chapter 2 contains important notes concerning safety. It is
imperative to read these notes in order to operate the Rota-
vapor safely.
Subject to change without prior announcement. No part of
these operating instructions may be reproduced in any form
or be processed, duplicated or distributed by electronic or
optical means without the written permission of Büchi Labor-
technik AG. All rights reserved.
© Büchi Labortechnik AG, 1995, 1999
en, Version F (32 pages) Order No.
R-3000 Instructions 96606
Progress built on tradition
05.10.1999

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BÜCHI Rotavapor R-3000
Designation
Models:
Rotavapor R-3000, 120 V
Rotavapor R-3000, 230 V
Table 1: Models
Glass assembly:
Glass assembly A
uncoated
PLASTIC+GLAS coated
Glass assembly V
uncoated
PLASTIC+GLAS coated
Glass assembly C
uncoated
PLASTIC+GLAS coated
Table 2: Glass assembly
Enclosed items: Order No.
1 power cable PNE, 2,5 m:
Type CH 10010
Type Schuko 10016
Type GB 17835
Type AUS 17836
Type USA 10020
1 Operating instructions
German 96605
English 96606
French 96607
Italian 96608
Spanish 96609
Table 3: Enclosed items
1 Scope of delivery
1 Scope of delivery
Figure 1: R-3000 glass assembly V

3
BÜCHI Rotavapor R-3000 2 Safety
2 Safety
This Rotavapor is built in conformance with the state of
engineering and the recognized rules of safety. Nevertheless,
it can still be a source of risks and hazards:
• if used by persons with insufficient training
• if used for purposes other than that for which it is intended.
2.1 Symbols
Stop
Information about hazards which can lead to serious material
damage or cause serious or potentially fatal injury.
Warning
Information about hazards which can be harmful to your health
or lead to material damage.
Please note
Information about technical requirements. Non-observance
can lead to malfunctions, inefficiency and lost production.
2.2 Requirements to be met by the customer
The Rotavapor must not be operated by any persons who
lack the training or professional experience to comprehend
the hazards that can arise when using the Rotavapor.
Personnel without such training or persons currently
undergoing a course of training require thorough instruction.
These operating instructions should form the basis of this
instruction.
2.3 Proper use
The Rotavapor is designed and built for laboratory service. It
is intended to be used on jobs involving the evaporation and
subsequent condensation of solvents.
The Rotavapor is used for:
• the distillation of solvents
• the concentration of solutions and suspensions
• the synthesis and purification of fine chemicals
• the drying of powders and granules
2.4 Improper use
Any use other than those already listed, and any application
that does not conform with the technical data is deemed to
be a case of misuse. The customer shall bare sole responsibility
for any damage owed to such misuse.

4
BÜCHI Rotavapor R-30002 Safety
The following applications in particular are prohibited:
• Use in hazardous-duty or explosion-proof rooms.
• Work involving overpressure.
• Production or processing of explosives of all kinds.
• Processing of hard samples (stones, soil samples, etc.)
that can cause the destruction of the evaporation flask.
• The use of heating sources other than the water bath.
2.5 General hazards
General hazards arise from:
• hot water in the heating bath.
• solvents which can form peroxides.
• solvents with low ignition, flash and/or explosion tempe-
ratures.
• mixtures of unknown composition or with impurities.
• combustible gases or solvent vapors in the direct vicinity
of the rotary evaporator.
• damaged glassware.
• electrostatic discharges when decanting solvents.
• electrostatic charges when drying powders.
2.6 Safety measures
These operating instructions are to be considered a part of
the Rotavapor. They must always be kept at the point of use
so that operating personnel can consult them at any time.
This applies likewise to copies in other languages, which can
be ordered separately (see Chapter 1, Scope of delivery).
The customer shall notify the manufacturer immediately of
any incidents involving safety aspects while using of the
Rotavapor.
Personal safety items such as goggles and a laboratory
coat must be worn.
There is risk of scalding when replacing hot evaporation flasks.
This can be prevented by wearing suitable gloves.
The use of optional Büchi safety devices such as PLASTIC+
GLAS coated glass components and safety shield will protect
the user in the event of an accident.
2.7 Modifications
Modifications are only permitted after consulting with the
manufacturer and obtaining his written consent.
Use only the recommended standard glass apparatus. Examine
glass components for any signs of damage before each use.

5
BÜCHI Rotavapor R-3000 2 Safety
You are allowed to install and remove only those specific parts
of the Rotavapor that are so designed to enable it to perform
its function. You can do so either by hand or with the tool
supplied with the Rotavapor. Apart from authorized maintenance
personnel, no one needs to remove any safety devices and
covers with a standard tool.
2.8 Safety elements
Electrics
• The Rotavapor is equipped with a fuse.
• The bath is equipped with an overtemperature cut-out.
Operation
• Levelling screw for uneven standing surfaces.
• Combination clip for fastening the evaporation flask and
for safely releasing tight glass joints between (evaporation
flask and vapor tube).
• Ball joint clamp to securely fasten the collection flask.
Glassware
• Use of high-grade, inert type 3.3 borosilicate glass.
• Threaded GL14 hose connections to prevent glass
breakage.
Optional
PLASTIC+GLAS is a unique protective coating for glass
components. It improves mechanical resistance to break-
age and increases protection against glass splinters. It also
prevents loss of solvent from the collection flask should it
be damaged.
The proved safety shield will protect the user from glass
splinters in the event of an ex- or implosion.

6
BÜCHI Rotavapor R-30003 Funciton
3 Function
3.1 Terms
In these operating instructions you will come across a number
of terms which require explanation.
Glass assembly A: diagonal condenser
Glass assembly V: vertical condenser
Glass assembly C: cold-trap
PLG: PLASTIC+GLAS is a unique protective
coating for glass components. It improves
mechanical resistance to breakage and
increases protection against glass splinters.
3.2 Functional principle
The rotary evaporator is used to carry out single-stage distilla-
tions at high speed and low stress. The process is based on
the evaporation and condensation of solvents using a rotating
evaporation flask. Distillation can be performed under vacuum
as well as under atmospheric pressure.
The following description is based on glass assembly V, for
example:
햲Evaporation zone
The solvent in the evaporation flask is heated by the hot
bath. The rotating evaporation flask generates intensive
turbulence in the flask contents and forms a thin film of
solvent on the inside surface of the flask. This combination
of turbulence and film prevents local overheating and gua-
rantees a high rate of evaporation.
햳Rotary drive
The drive unit ensures uniform rotation of the evaporation
flask.
햴Cooling zone
The solvent vapor flows at high speed into the condenser.
This is where the solvent vapor´s energy is transferred to
the cooling medium (e.g. water) – the solvent condenses.
햵Collection flask
The collection flask is used to collect the condensate.
햶Vacuum connection
The solvent´s boiling temperature can be lowered by applying
vacuum. This results in a lower thermal load thus reducing
stress on the product.
The efficiency of the evaporator is influenced by the pressure
of distillation (vacuum), the temperature of the heating bath,
the speed of rotation and the size of the evaporation flask.
For details of how to select the optimum distillation conditions,
see Chapter 5.3, Selecting the conditions of distillation.
Figure 2: R-3000 glass apparatus V
햴
햶
햵
햳
햲

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BÜCHI Rotavapor R-3000 4 Putting into operation
4 Putting into operation
4.1 Unpacking
Open the boxes carefully so as not to break any glass! Keep
the original packaging in a safe place in case you ever want
to move the Rotavapor.
햲Evaporating and receiving flasks
햳Condenser
햴Various parts
4.2 Point of use
The Rotavapor must stand on a firm, horizontal surface. Minor
irregularities can be compensated with the levelling screw.
The Rotavapor is not suitable for use in hazardous-duty rooms.
4.3 Quick-lift
The levelling screw can be adjusted to prevent the rotary eva-
porator from wobbling on an uneven surface.
Figure 4: Levelling screw
Figure 3: Packaging
햳
햴
햲

8
BÜCHI Rotavapor R-3000
4.4 Heating bath
Operate the bath with tap water or a 1:1 mixture of tap water
and distilled water.
Never remove the heater from the bath until it has cooled
(risk of burning). Only the inside of the water bath is heated
during operation.
Insert the bath into the base plate.
4 Putting into operation
Hang the heating element in the bath and plug it into the
Rotavapor.
Figure 5: Bath heater

9
BÜCHI Rotavapor R-3000 4 Putting into operation
The heater is equipped with an overtemperature cut-out.
Should this cut-out be triggered, you can re-activate the heater
by pressing the reset pin.
4.5 Sealing system
Assemble the complete sealing system in the order specified
(numbered), to prevent from destroying of the seal..
Seal KD-22 is subject to certain wear and needs to be replaced occasionally.
To prolong the life of this seal, observe the following points:
• Examine regularly.
• Clean only with soapy water or alcohol.
• Never apply grease.
• Never touch with any sharp objects.
Figure 7: Sealing system
4.6 Glass assemblies
All the ground-glass joints should be greased for optimum sealing
of the system.
Use only glassware that is in perfect condition and shows no
signs of damage. Examine the glassware each time before use.
The various types of glass assemblies are illustrated in Chapter
8, Replacement parts.
• The condenser can be fastened without having to remove
the union nut. Simply undo the nut just enough to push the
flange through.
• The collection flask must be secured with the ball joint clamp.
• The evaporating flask must be secured with the combi-clip.
Figure 6: Resetting the overtemperature cut-out
햴
햳
햲
reset

10
BÜCHI Rotavapor R-30004 Putting into operation
4.7 Combi-clip
The patented combi-clip performs the following functions:
A Holds the evaporating flask
B Releases the evaporating flask
C Removes out a tight vapor duct
(Hold the vapour duct by hand)
D Holds non-Büchi evaporating flasks
(clip in positioning hole 2)
4.8 Hose connections
General
• Hoses with an internal diameter of ~6 mm for connectors
with a GL14 union nut
Vacuum
• Keep the vacuum hoses as short as possible
• It is advisable to install a woulff bottle between the vacuum
source and the Rotavapor. The woulff bottle will prevent
solvent or solids from passing directly into the pump and
will prevent water from getting into the rotavap or when
using water-jet pumps
햲Vacuum connection on the condenser
햳Woulff bottle or trap
햴Vacuum controller
햵Line valve
햶Vacuum source (PTFE diaphragm pump, water jet pump)
햷Cooling water from tap or recirculating chiller
Figure 8: Function of the combi clip
Figure 9: Hose system
햲
햷
720
햳
햲
햵
D
A
CB
햶